Cabinet treadmill with latch

Abstract

A cabinet has a tread base rotatably connected to be oriented in an exercise position extending outwardly and in a stored position extending inwardly secured within the enclosure of the cabinet. The underside of the tread base may be configured to provide a suitable aesthetic exterior surface. A latching arrangement is provided to secure the tread base within the enclosure in the second or stored position. Elevation structure and motor structure are provided to elevate the tread base when in the first position and to power the endless belt of the tread base when in the first position. The elevation structure may be operated to vary the inclination of the tread base when in the first position. The underside of the tread base has a decorative panel and functions as a door for the cabinet. The elevation structure may include an electrically driven rack and pinion as well as a gas cylinder system.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A treadmill comprising: a freestanding housing having surface engaging means for engaging a support surface, and   enclosure structure extending upwardly from said surface engaging means;     a tread base having a front, a left side and a right side with an endless belt positioned thereinbetween, said tread base being movably attached to said freestanding housing to be orientable between a first position in which said tread base extends away from said housing with said endless belt positioned to support a user performing exercise thereon and a second position in which said tread base is positioned toward said freestanding housing; and   latching means positioned to latch said tread base to said freestanding housing with said tread base in said second position, said latching means having a first element associated with said tread base spaced from said front and a second element associated with said enclosure structure positioned to interact with said first element.   
     
     
       2. The treadmill of claim 1, wherein said enclosure structure has a top and wherein said first element of said latching means is a latching member connected to one of said top and said tread base and said second element of said latching means is a lever member connected to the other of said top and said tread base. 
     
     
       3. The treadmill of claim 2, wherein said lever member is rotatably connected to said top, wherein said lever member has a first end configured for operation by a user to urge said lever member from a first position to a second position, and wherein said lever member has a second end opposite said first end, said second end being configured to operationally interact with said latching member to urge said lever member from said first position to said second position. 
     
     
       4. A treadmill comprising: a freestanding housing having surface engaging means for engaging a support surface, and   enclosure structure extending upwardly from said surface engaging means and said enclosure structure having a top;     a tread base having a left side and a right side with an endless belt positioned thereinbetween, said tread base being movably attached to said freestanding housing to be orientable between a first position in which said tread base extends away from said housing with said endless belt positioned to support a user performing exercise thereon and a second position in which said tread base is positioned toward said freestanding housing; and   latching means positioned to latch said tread base to said freestanding housing with said tread base in said second position, said latching means including a latching member connected to one of said top and said tread base and a lever member rotatably connected to the other of said top and said tread base, said lever member having a first end configured for operation by a user to urge said lever member from a first position to a second position and with a second end opposite said first end, said second end being configured to operationally interact with said latching member to urge said lever member from said first position to said second position.   
     
     
       5. The treadmill of claim 4, wherein said lever member has a receiving portion to receive said latching member with said lever member in said second position and to retain said latching member with said lever member in said first position. 
     
     
       6. The treadmill of claim 5, wherein said lever member has a cam surface against which said latching member is urged as said tread base is urged toward its second position, and wherein said receiving portion of said lever member is positioned proximate said cam surface so that said latching member enters said receiving portion as it leaves said cam surface. 
     
     
       7. The treadmill of claim 6, wherein said latching means includes a spring to urge said lever member toward said first position. 
     
     
       8. The treadmill of claim 7, wherein said top has an aperture proximate said lever member through which a user may operate said lever member from said first position toward said second position. 
     
     
       9. The treadmill of claim 8, wherein said latching means includes a button attached to said lever member proximate the first end thereof, said button extending into said aperture for operation by a user. 
     
     
       10. The treadmill of claim 9, wherein said latching member is a cylindrical bar connected to said tread base, and wherein said receiving portion is a recess formed to retain said latching member and inhibit movement of said latching member and said tread base from said second position. 
     
     
       11. A treadmill comprising: a freestanding housing having surface engaging means for engaging a support surface, and   enclosure structure extending upwardly from said surface engaging means;     a tread base having a front, a left side and a right side with an endless belt positioned thereinbetween and having a mass with a center of gravity, said tread base being movably attached to said freestanding housing to be orientable between a first position in which said tread base extends away from said housing with said endless belt positioned to support a user performing exercise thereon and a second position in which said tread base is positioned toward said freestanding housing with said center of gravity positioned relative to said front in said second position to resist movement of said tread base from said second position; and   latching means positioned to latch said tread base to said freestanding housing with said tread base in said second position.   
     
     
       12. A treadmill comprising: a freestanding housing having surface engaging means for engaging a support surface, and   enclosure structure extending upwardly from said surface engaging means;     a tread base having a front, a left side and a right side with an endless belt positioned thereinbetween and having a mass with a center of gravity, said tread base being movably attached to said freestanding housing to be orientable between a first position in which said tread base extends away from said housing with said endless belt positioned to support a user performing exercise thereon and a second position in which said tread base is positioned toward said freestanding housing with said center of gravity positioned relative to said front to reduce the force necessary to move said tread base from said first position to said second position; and   latching means positioned to latch said tread base to said freestanding housing with said tread base in said second position.   
     
     
       13. A treadmill comprising: a freestanding housing having surface engaging means for engaging a support surface, and   enclosure structure extending upwardly from said surface engaging means;     a tread base having a front, a middle, a left side and a right side with an endless belt positioned thereinbetween and having a mass with a center of gravity, said tread base being movably attached to said freestanding housing to be orientable between a first position in which said tread base extends away from said housing with said endless belt positioned to support a user performing exercise thereon and a second position in which said tread base is positioned toward said freestanding housing with said center of gravity positioned between said front and said middle; and   latching means positioned to latch said tread base to said freestanding housing with said tread base in said second position.